Agriculture

Master of Science in Seed Technology and Business Management

The Master of Science in Seed Technology and Business Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in seed science, seed technology, and seed business management. The programme provides specialised training in seed production, seed quality control, seed processing, seed business management, seed trade, and seed policy.

Core areas include seed science and technology, seed production and quality control, seed processing and storage, seed business management, seed trade and policy, plant breeding, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, laboratory sessions, fieldwork, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University as public institutions. UoN offers the programme through the Faculty of Agriculture while KU offers a closely related MSc in Seed Technology and Trade. The programme is available in full-time and part-time modes over two years, combining coursework with research.

Students develop competencies in seed production, quality control, processing, business management, trade, policy, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, laboratory work, fieldwork, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for seed sector technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial roles.

UoN charges approximately KES 111,000 per year while KU charges approximately KES 326,400 per year. No private university confirmed offering this programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Agriculture, Seed Science, Botany, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as seed technologists, seed quality managers, seed business managers, seed trade specialists, plant breeders, and lecturers across seed companies, agricultural research institutions, government regulatory bodies, and international seed trade organisations.

Skills Required

Seed Production and Quality Control
Seed Processing and Storage Technology
Seed Business Management and Marketing
Seed Trade and Policy
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Seed Testing and Certification
Seed Industry Regulations and Standards
Research Methods in Seed Science
Seed Enterprise Development
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Seed Science and Technology
Seed Production and Quality Control
Seed Processing and Storage
Seed Business Management and Marketing
Seed Trade and Policy
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Seed Testing and Certification
Research Methods in Seed Science
Seed Industry Regulations
Thesis Research

Certifications

KEPHIS Professional Certification
ISF Professional Membership

Specializations

Seed Production

Focuses on seed production, covering seeds, production, quality, propagation, and managing seed production and quality control.

Seed Business Management

Examines seed business management, covering business, management, seeds, marketing, and managing seed business and enterprise.

Seed Quality Control

Covers seed quality control, covering quality, control, testing, certification, and managing seed quality and certification.

Seed Trade and Policy

Focuses on seed trade and policy, covering trade, policy, seeds, regulations, and managing seed trade and policy.

Plant Breeding

Examines plant breeding, covering breeding, genetics, plants, varieties, and managing plant breeding and genetics.

Seed Processing and Storage

Covers seed processing and storage, covering processing, storage, seeds, technology, and managing seed processing and storage.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
Private, up to: Ksh 195,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Seed Science and Technology
Seed Production and Quality Control
Seed Processing and Storage
Seed Business Management and Marketing
Seed Trade and Policy
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Seed Testing and Certification
Research Methods in Seed Science
Seed Industry Regulations
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Seed Science and Technology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines seed science and technology, covering seeds, science, technology, biology, and understanding seed science and technology.
Seed Production and Quality Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers seed production, covering production, seeds, quality, propagation, and managing seed production and quality control.
Seed Processing and Storage
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines seed processing, covering processing, storage, seeds, technology, and managing seed processing and storage.
Plant Breeding and Genetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers plant breeding, covering breeding, genetics, plants, varieties, and managing plant breeding and genetics.
Seed Business Management and Marketing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines seed business management, covering business, management, seeds, marketing, and managing seed business and enterprise.
Seed Trade and Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers seed trade and policy, covering trade, policy, seeds, regulations, and managing seed trade and policy.
Seed Testing and Certification
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines seed testing, covering testing, certification, quality, standards, and managing seed testing and certification.
Research Methods in Seed Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, seed, design, and conducting research in seed science, preparing students for their thesis.
Seed Industry Regulations and Standards
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines seed industry regulations, covering regulations, standards, seeds, compliance, and managing seed industry regulations and standards.
Seed Enterprise Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers seed enterprise development, covering enterprise, development, seeds, business, and managing seed enterprise development.
Plant Variety Protection and Intellectual Property
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines plant variety protection, covering protection, varieties, intellectual, property, and managing plant variety protection and intellectual property.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a seed technology or business management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and seed technology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Seed Production
Focuses on seed production, covering seeds, production, quality, propagation, and managing seed production and quality control.
Seed Business Management
Examines seed business management, covering business, management, seeds, marketing, and managing seed business and enterprise.
Seed Quality Control
Covers seed quality control, covering quality, control, testing, certification, and managing seed quality and certification.
Seed Trade and Policy
Focuses on seed trade and policy, covering trade, policy, seeds, regulations, and managing seed trade and policy.
Plant Breeding
Examines plant breeding, covering breeding, genetics, plants, varieties, and managing plant breeding and genetics.
Seed Processing and Storage
Covers seed processing and storage, covering processing, storage, seeds, technology, and managing seed processing and storage.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Seed Technology and Business Management programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, fieldwork, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover seed science, production, quality control, processing, and business management. Seed science sessions examine seeds, science, technology, biology, and understanding seed science and technology. Seed production sessions cover production, seeds, quality, propagation, and managing seed production. Quality control sessions cover quality, control, testing, certification, and managing seed quality control and certification. Processing sessions cover processing, storage, seeds, technology, and managing seed processing and storage. Business management sessions cover business, management, seeds, marketing, and managing seed business and enterprise. Trade and policy sessions cover trade, policy, seeds, regulations, and managing seed trade and policy. Plant breeding sessions cover breeding, genetics, plants, varieties, and managing plant breeding and genetics. Research methods sessions cover research, methods, seed, design, and conducting research in seed science. Laboratory sessions provide practical experience in seed testing, quality analysis, and germination testing. Fieldwork provides practical experience in seed production fields, processing facilities, and seed companies. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a seed technology or business management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses Kenya's growing seed industry and agricultural development needs.
Programme combines technical seed science with business management skills.
Graduates are eligible for KEPHIS professional certification and ISF membership.
Programme offers both technical and entrepreneurial career paths in the seed sector.

Against it

UoN fee data is estimated from a related programme, not confirmed for this exact programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Significant fee difference between UoN (~KES 111,000/year) and KU (KES 326,400/year).
Programme requires background in agriculture, biology, or a related field.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public111k to 326k

111k at University of Nairobi326k at Kenyatta University

Private119k to 195k

119k at Mount Kenya University195k at Kabarak University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 326.4K/yr verified. UoN, MKU, Kabarak unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. AFSTA and international seed industry organisations may offer scholarships and grants for seed science research and education.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
AFSTA Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 111,000Kenyan
Universities may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate seed technology students.
AFSTA Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
AFSTA and international seed industry organisations may offer scholarships for seed science education and research.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant work experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, field reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering seed science, production, quality control, processing, business management, and trade policy.
Laboratory and Field Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work and fieldwork, demonstrating seed testing, quality analysis, and production skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a seed technology or business management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and seed technology knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University (public) offer MSc in Seed Technology and Business Management or closely related programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in seed technology and business management. Graduates may interact with KEPHIS for seed quality and certification standards and ISF for international seed industry standards. The programme aligns with AFSTA and ISF global seed trade frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University (public) offer MSc in Seed Technology and Business Management or closely related programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in seed technology and business management. Graduates may interact with KEPHIS for seed quality and certification standards and ISF for international seed industry standards. The programme aligns with AFSTA and ISF global seed trade frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Seed Technologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages seed technology operations, covering seeds, technology, quality, and managing seed technology and production.
Seed Quality Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages seed quality, covering quality, control, testing, certification, and managing seed quality and certification.
Seed Business Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages seed business, covering business, management, seeds, marketing, and managing seed business operations.
Seed Trade Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages seed trade, covering trade, seeds, markets, regulations, and managing seed trade and market access.
Plant Breeder
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts plant breeding, covering breeding, genetics, plants, varieties, and managing plant breeding and variety development.
Seed Science Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches seed science and technology at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SeedCalc
SoftwarePrimary
SeedCalc for seed testing data analysis, covering seeds, testing, analysis, and managing seed testing data and calculations.
R Statistical Software
Software
R for statistical analysis of seed research data, covering statistics, analysis, data, and managing seed research data.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Excel for seed data management and business analysis, covering data, analysis, business, and managing seed business data.
QuickBooks
Software
QuickBooks for seed business financial management, covering accounting, finance, business, and managing seed enterprise finances.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Seed technology is just about farming.
Seed technology covers science, production, quality control, processing, business management, trade, and policy beyond just farming.
This programme is only for agriculturists.
Seed technology and business management is for professionals from agriculture, biology, business, and economics backgrounds, not just agriculturists.
Seed technology has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya has a growing seed industry with demand for skilled professionals in seed companies, regulatory bodies, and research institutions.
This programme is only about seed production.
The programme covers seed business management, trade, policy, quality control, and processing alongside production.
Seed business management is the same as general business management.
Seed business management focuses specifically on the seed industry value chain, including seed production, quality, trade, and regulatory frameworks.
You need to be a farmer to benefit from this programme.
Seed technology and business management graduates work in seed companies, regulatory bodies, research institutions, and trade organisations, not just as farmers.